You were nervous when you first started riding a motorcycle, but it faded over time. You grew confident. You gained experience.
Then you were in an accident, and all of that confidence was instantly gone. The crash wasn’t your fault, and that’s what makes it so hard. Anyone can cause an accident in seconds. How safe are you? What should you do to get back on the bike and enjoy riding again?
One of the best things you can do is to talk it out with people you trust. Things have a way of growing and changing when you keep them to yourself. Talking through your fears and concerns can help you move past them.
You can also view it as a learning experience by writing down all of the details you remember. You may find warning signs to keep in mind for next time. Experts also note that writing things out helps you deal with the mental and emotional side of the crash.
Consider starting small. You don’t have to get on the bike and ride for 100 miles across the California countryside. Just take it to work one day. Take it to a friend’s house. Start with short rides, and your confidence will grow with every successful one.
It’s also wise not to stay away from the crash site. This can just make anxiety worse. If you go back, you can fight through those fears, and this also proves to yourself that you can ride safely in that area.
Of course, as you work to overcome these mental hurdles, you may also have lost wages, medical bills and other issues to deal with. Make sure you know if you have a right to financial compensation from the driver who caused the crash.
Source: Geico, “Tips For Driving Again, After An Accident,” Caroline Hwang, accessed Aug. 18, 2017